University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Men's Swimming & Diving Finalizes Recruiting Class
May 25, 2005 | Men's Swimming & Diving
May 25, 2005
AMHERST, Mass. - Head Coach Russ Yarworth will be welcoming 14 new swimmers and divers to the program next fall. The Minutemen won their fifth consecutive Atlantic 10 Championships last season and the eighth overall in the program's history.
"This group of student-athletes is ready to continue our strong tradition. They are good, motivated students, and the talent level from top to bottom is quite strong," said Yarworth.
Already committed during the early signing period were Nate Bromage (Palmer, MA) and Chris Chambers (Westfield, MA). Both won Massachusetts Championship titles in their respective events as seniors.
This spring Greg Braun of Boulder, Colo., signed a National Letter of Intent to join the UMass squad as one of the top prep freestyle sprinters and backstrokers in Colorado.
"Greg will be a superb college swimmer," said Yarworth. "He is a talented student-athlete who will add to our program."
Also signing to attend UMass in the fall is diver Kirk Scimone who will transfer from Western Kentucky.
"He'll be a great contributor to our squad with the potential to make the finals at the A-10 Championships on both boards (the one-meter and three-meter dives)," said head diving coach Mandy Hixon.
Other new members of next year's squad will be Nick Bassolino (Wayne, N.J.), Andy Berthaume (Hampden, Mass.), Byron Johnson (Taunton, Mass.), Brian McNeil (Westford, Mass.), Tristan Partridge (Lake Forest, Ill.), Nick Raithel (Bethesda, Md.), Mike Silvia (Manchester, Conn.), Brad Sloan (Shrewsbury, Pa.), and John Weaver (East Longmeadow, Mass.).
Bassolino was a YMCA National Qualifer in the backstroke and at 6'4" adds another long frame to the Minuteman squad.
"At 6'4", Nick has the frame to develop into a top backstroker her at UMass," said Yarworth.
Berthaume was the Western Massachusetts Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke and is one of six Bay Staters to join the Commonwealth's flag-ship university.
"Andy is a great student and a solid worker - he should provide good depth in the breaststroke and freestyle events."
The 2004 Massachusetts State High School Diving Champion, Johnson adds to an up-and-coming diving corps for the Minutemen.
"Byron is an untapped talent," said Hixon. "The sky is truly the limit for this young man."
A Boston Glove Scholastic honoree, McNeil will add to the Minutemen's depth in the breaststroke.
"Brian is a great student-athlete with the desire to train and improve to a new level."
Partridge was one of the top-10 Illinois prepsters in the 100 and 200 butterfly as well as the 200 individual medley.
"Tristan will bring his versatility to our individual medley group and has a can-do attitude that will be infectious to the team."
Raithel earned the Maryland Distinguished Scholar Award and was named as one of the Mid-Atlantic Top-10 Swimmers.
"Nick is a very bright kid who is totally invested in school and in training. He will be a real leader in our program," said Yarworth.
Silvia finished his prep career as one of the top-10 swimmers in the Connecticut State Open in both the 100 breaststroke and the 200 freestyle.
"Mike is a very tough swimmer who has a desire to work hard," said Yarworth. "He has a large frame being 6'4" which will help him develop in his career."
Sloan was the runner-up in the Pennsylvania State Championships in the 200 individual medley.
"Brad is ready to follow in the UMass tradition of excellence in the individual medley. He is a solid all around athlete, a great student, and should be a solid force in the Atlantic 10."
Weaver transfers to UMass from the University of New Hampshire. During his prep career, he was the 2004 Massachusetts State Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke.
"John is a tremendously talented, natural breaststroker who will be able to challenge the best swimmers in the conference this year," said Yarworth.
The Minutemen won their fifth consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship title last season. It was the eighth overall in the program's history and broke Penn State's standing record of seven A-10 titles.
For his efforts, Yarworth was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his 26-year coaching career at UMass.